Paint stripping composition



United States Patent 2,940,87 7 PAINT STRIPPING COB/[POSITION Lawrence L. Static and Wendell L. Harris, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Apr. 21, 1955, Ser. No. 503,012 8 Claims. (Cl. 134-38) It is an object of this invention to provide an improved composition for completely removing, in a relatively short period of time, paints, varnishes, and the like and particularly those containing epoxy resins from surfaces which have been coated therewith.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a composition for removing varnishes, enamels, and the like and particularly those containing epoxy resins from metal surfaces coated therewith which comprises an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, a monohydroxy benzene and suitable derivatives thereof and at least one compound selected from a class consisting of a monosaccharide, an organic acid derivative of a monosaccharide,

. an alkali metal salt of an organic acid derived from a monosaccharide, and a disaccharide.

It is well known that an aqueous solution of a caustic such as sodium hydroxide and phenol is efiective in removing various paints from metal surfaces. However, these solutions are inefiective in removing coatings containing certain resins, particularly those containing epoxy resins. This invention lies primarily in the discovery that a monosaccharide such as glucose, an organic acid derivative of a monosaccharide such as gluconic acid, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid derived from a monosaccharide such as sodium gluconate or a disaccharide, may be added in certain specific proportions to an aqueous solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide and monohydroxy benzene in certain definite proportions to result in a composition which is effective in removing paints, varnishes, lacquers, enamels and the like, particularly those containing epoxy resins from metal surfaces. The removal is readily efiected in a matter of a few minutes by immersing the part from which the paint or the like is to be removed in a bath containing the above mentioned constituents maintained at a temperature approaching its boiling point.

The various agents which may be successfully used for the purpose of the present invention include a variety of compounds. Any suitable caustic may be employed but the preferred compounds are sodium and potassium hydroxide, and particularly caustic soda because of its relatively low cost. The phenol may be any of the monohydroxy benzene compounds as, for example, phenol, cresol or xylenol, etc. The monosaccharide referred to may be any of the readily available sugars such as glucose. The organic acid derivatives of monosaccharides which are included within the scope of the in- Patented June 14, 1960 vention are, for example, products obtained from the oxidation of glucose, namely, gluconic and sacchric acids and alkali metal salts of these acids such as potassium and sodium gluconate. The term disaccharides includes compounds such as sucrose, maltose and lactose but sucrose is preferred because of its relatively low cost.

A further understanding'of the present invention will be obtained from the following examples which were carried out by immersing a metal plate coated with various paints containing an epoxy resin in an aqueous bath of the composition indicated mixed at room temperatures and maintained at temperatures of approximately 240 F.

The paint was removed in 5 to 10 minutes and the final cold water rinse removed all traces of the paint.

Example 3 Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 3 Phenol .6 Sodium gluconate .6

The paint was removed in from 5 to 10 minutes and a cold water rinse removed all traces of the paint; however, the bath became thick and relatively difilcult to use.

Example 4 Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 1 3 Cresol p .6 Potassium gluconate .03

The paint Was removed in 5 to 10 minutes and a final cold water rinse removed all traces of the paint.

Example 5 Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 3 Cresol .3

Sodium gluconate .03

The paint was removed in 5 to 10 minutes.

Example 6 Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 3 Cresol .45

Sodium gluconate .03

The paint'was removed in to 10 minutes and a final cold'water rinse removed all traces of the paint.

Example 7 Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 3 Cresol .15 Cane sugar .6 Sodium gluconate .03

The paint was removed in 5 minutes and the final cold water rinse removed all traces of paint.

' coatings.

' Exarriple 8 Pounds p er gallon of water the neighborhood of about 240 F; It has been found that in the above compositions thccausti'c alkali maybe Thegpaint was completely removed in -:three "niin'u't'es and'the cold'water rinse removedall traces ofthe paint/ The paint was removed -in three' minutes and a final icoldwatersprayremoved all traces of the paint.

Example 10" i r a 7 7 .Poundsiper. gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 2 Sodium chloride ....1 1 Cresol .45 Sugar .6 Sodium glueonateeanmae; .03

The-paint*Wa-removed-inS and lO'min'utes and a final cold *waterTinse removed the lasttraces-ofpaint ,Example 11 I Pounds per gallon of water Sodium hydroxide 6 Cresol .9 Cane sugar. l.2 Sodium gluconate .06

i in ariioilhfs" old l5 to 6 pounds per gallon of Wa'tetj'in the replaced by sodium chloride up to /2 of the weight specified for the sodium hydroxide to achieve stripping of epoxy resins paints in a reasonable time. It is believed thatthe sodium chloride functions to maintain the boiling point of the composition iwitliin' a range where stripping is readily effected. a

In general, within the rangesset "forth'above, the effectiveness' of the solutions 'are increased with greater proportions of caustic alkali. With largenproportions of monohydroxy benzene, smaller proportionsof saccharide known methods.

'The'al-kalimetal hydroxid'e'is preferably'used I caseofr sodium hydroxide. Solutionsha'ving amounts of .eaustiesoda below 1.5 pounds 'are' generallyigtoo slow in stripping epoxy resin paints within 1 a time useful in commercial operations whereassolutions containing caustic soda in excess of 6 pounds are generally subject to ex-' "cessive foaming at temperatures in the vicinity of the boiling point. Other alkali -metal hydroxides may "be used in chemically "equivalent amounts; The preferred monohydroxy benzene -is -cresolpresent in amounts of from-.05 to 2.0 pounds per gallon of water. Phenol and xylenol amounts' The saccharide or suitable derivative'thereof may be a disaccharide or a monosaccharide, an organioacidderivative of amonosacchafideior'analkali. metal ,saltof .an. organic .acidderived from :a. monosaccharide either singly or in combination. In-a preferred 7 solution containing a caustic alkali and a monohydroxy benzene in.'thejrangesjindicated above, gluconic'lacid or sodium 'gluconate may be present in amounts 'of from about .01 to .6 pound per gallon of water. ,Sucrose or glucose maybe present from about .2 to 1.2 pounds per .gallon 'of Water. Excellent results areobtained in using gluconieacid or sodium glucon-ate in amounts of up to :6 poundper gallon 'of water together with'siicrose-or glucose'in amounts'from about .4 to .'91pound.per gallon of Water." i e I 7 -Bcst resultsareachieyed when the stripping baths are operated substantially Eat-their boiling points, that is, in

may also be used in chemically equivalent hydroxide per gallon of water and a monohydroxy-bem. zene taken from the class consisting of phenol, cresol or saccharide derivatives are neededfor optimum results. In use, as indicated above, thestrippingsolutions are preferably maintained .substautiallyat their boiling points and the parts to be stripped ofpaint are merely immersed in the solution for a time suificient to remove the paint after which the parts are removed from the .bath and are sprayed with water to remove *final traces fof; the

paint and residual stripping-solution. Thebath rnaybe regenerated by maintaining the alkalinity ofthebath at a desired concentration and periodically adding thecaus- -tic alkali together with the other constituents'in' the so lution'in proportional quantities according to the particu- 'lar formula used, as may be necessary to maintainthe caustic alkali at about'the original concentration. The

aniountof alkalito 'be added may be determined by well In the course of the paint stripping operations, the paint settles to the bottom of the tank containing the'strippingsolution and periodically the liquor-maybe'decantedand the sludge removed.

Preferredcompositions arcshown in Examples 1, 6, 9

and 10. ''However, it should be understood that satisfactory results may be'obtained Within the rangesindic'ated-above and optimum compositions "are dependent on the choice of materials used in the stripping compositions,-the type of paint to' be stripped and'desired .operating conditions.

' While the embodiments ofthe present invention'as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it 'is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

Whatis'claimed is asfollows; a a

1. A paint stripping composition comprising originally water, about 0.01 to-0.06 pound ofsodiumigluconate'per gallon of water, an alkalif'metal hydroxideltaken from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hy- "droxide molecularly equivalent to from about 3 to 6 pounds offso'dium hydroxide'gper gallon of water and a monohydroxy benzene taken from :the group consisting of phenol, crawl and xylenol 'molecularly equivalent to about 0.3 to 0.9 pound of cresol'per gallon "of water.

2. A paint stripping composition'comprising'originally water, about'0.0l to 0.06 pound of gluconic. acid vper gallonof water, an alkali metal hydroxide taken from the 'groupiconsisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide molecular-1y equivalent to -from about 3 to 6 pounds of sodium hydroxide vpergallon of water and a monohydroxy benzene taken from the group consisting of phenol, cresol and xylenol ofa molecular equivalent of about 0.3 to 0.9 pound of crcsol per gallon of water.

3.. Apaint stripping composition comprising originally water, about 0.6 to 1.2, pounds of glucose per. gallon of water; an alkali i netal hydroxide takenfrom-the class consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide molecularly equivalent to about, 3 to 6- pounds';sodium and xylenol .molecularly equivalent to,about10.3 to 0,9

pound of cresol'pergallon of water. 70,

' 4. A paint stripping'compositioncomprising originally water about 0.4 to 0.9 pound of a disaccharide pergallon of water, an alkali metal hydroxiddtakenfrom the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium -hydroxide molecularly equivalent to 3 to 6 pounds of benzene taken from the group consisting of phenol, cresol and xylenol molecularly equivalent to about 0.3 to 0.9 pound of cresol per gallon of Water.

5. A paint stripping composition comprising originally water, about 0.4 to 0.9 pound of sucrose per gallon of water, an alkali metal hydroxide taken from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide molecularly equivalent to 3 to 6 pounds of sodium hydroxide per gallon of water and a monohydroxy benzene taken from the group consisting of phenol, cresol and xylenol molecularly equivalent to about 0.3 to 0.9 pound of cresol per gallon of water.

6. A paint stripping composition comprising originally water, about 3 pounds of sodium hydroxide per gallon of water, about 0.3 to 0.5 pound of cresol per gallon of water, and about 0.03 pound of sodium gluconate per gallon of Water.

7. A paint stripping composition comprising originally an alkali metal hydroxide taken from the class consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, a monohydroxy benzene taken from the class consisting of phenol, cresol and xylenol and at least one compound taken from the class consisting of glucose, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, sodium saccharate, potassium saccharate, and a disaccharide, said alkali metal hydroxide being present in amounts molecularly equivalent to from 3 to 6 pounds of sodium hydroxide per gallon of water, said monohydroxy benzene being present in amounts molecularly equivalent to about 0.3 to 0.6 pound per gallon of water, said gluconic acid, saccharic acid, sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, sodium saccharate and potassium saccharate being present in amounts molecularly equivalent to about 0.03 to 0.6 pound of sodium gluconate per gallon of water and said glucose and disaccharide being presented in amounts molecularly equivalent to about 0.6 to 1.2 pounds per gallon of water.

8. In a method for removing a coating of paint, varnish and the like from an article coated therewith, the steps comprising of heating a solution in accordance with claim 7 to approximately its boiling point and subjecting the article to said solution for a time sufiicient to remove said coating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,524 Patty Ian. 24, 1911 1,322,009 Gorius Nov. 18, 1919 1,744,463 Gravell Ian. 21, 1930 2,584,017 Dvorkovitz et a] Jan. 29, 1952 2,650,875 Dvorkovitz et a1 Sept. 1, 1953 2,653,860 Meyer Sept. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 259,360 Germany Apr. 23, 1913 780,292 France Jan. 29, 1935 OTHER REFERENCES Surface Active Agents, by Schwartz et a1. (1949), Page 465, pub. by Interscience Pub. Inc., New York.

Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 4th Ed. (1950), pages 214 and 319, pub. by Reinhold Pub. Corp., New York. 

7. A PAINT STRIPPING COMPOSITION COMPRISING ORIGINALLY AN ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE TAKEN FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE AND POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, A MONOHYDROXY BENZENE TAKEN FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PHENOL, CRESOL AND XYLENOL AND AT LEAST ONE COMPOUND TAKEN FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF GLUCOSE, GLUCONIC ACID, SACCHARIC ACID, SODIUM GLUCONATE, POTASSIUM GLUCONATE, SODIUM SACCHARATE, POTASSIUM SACCHARATE, AND A DISACCHARIDE, SAID ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE BEING PRESENT IN AMOUNTS MOLECULARLY EQUIVALENT TO FROM 3 TO 6 POUNDS OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE PER GALLON OF WATER, AID MONOHYDROXY BENZENE BEING PRESENT IM ANOUNTS MOLECULARLY EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 0.3 TO 0.6 POUND PER GALLON OF WATER, SAID GLUCONIC ACID, SACCHARIC ACID, SODIUM GLUCONATE, POTASSIUM GLUCONATE, SODIUM SACCHARATE AND POTASSIUM SACCHARATE BEING PRESENT IN AMOUNTS MOLECULARL EQUVILANENT TO ABOUT 0.03 TO 0.06 POUND OF SODIUM GLUCONATE PER GALLON OF WATER AND SAID GLUCOSE AND DISACCHARIDE BEING PRESENTED IN AMOUNTS MOLECULARLY EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 0.6 TO 1.2 POUNDS PER GALLON OF WATER.
 8. IN A METHOD FOR REMOVING A COATING OF PAINT, VARNISH AND THE LIKE FROM AN ARTICLE CAOTED THERWITH, THE STEPS COMPRISING OF HEATING A SOLUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAIM 7 TO APPROXIMATELY ITS BOILING POINT AND SUBJECTING THE ARTICLE TO SAID SOLUTION FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE SAID COATING. 